Happy 30th Anniversary, Epcot!

Today 30 years ago Epcot Center opened its gates for the first time. Epcot was originally conceived by Walt Disney as a futuristic city in Florida where people would actually live and work. After his death, these plans fell through and Walt Disney Productions at that time moved ahead with Magic Kingdom and a few Disney resorts first. A few years later it was decided that Walt’s experimental prototype community of tomorrow would be build as a theme park, but without Disney characters and stories. Instead, it was designed as a permanent World Fair with different pavilions depicting countries from all over the world. In Future World, the pavilions bare a (retro) futuristic look and highlight modern technology through exhibitions and attractions.

In honor of Epcot’s 30th Anniversary, browse through these photos we took during previous trips to Walt Disney World.

To all who come to this place of joy, hope and friendship — welcome. EPCOT is inspired by Walt Disney’s creative vision. Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, wonders of enterprise and concepts of a future that promises new and exciting benefits for all. May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire and above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man’s ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere in the world. — E. Cardon Walker, March 1, 1982